Session 76: The War Arrives in the Socrates Forest. Report

General Summary

5th of Diana, 500 CD.

The companions of Shining Eclipse an adventure group in the organization known as Acquisitions Incorporated Franchise K based out of Soteropolis. Wake up on the morning of the 5th of Diana 500 CD ready to continue on with their current mission to the city of Rivendell. Rivendell is an elvish city located in the NE corner of the Legendary Socrates Forest. The city or Rivendell is home to the house of Elrond one of the three clans chosen by the Council of the Three rivers. The party has traveled in this part of the forest by horseback, carts, and wagons for the past three days. The party has been on this mission since the 24th of Ares escorting 4 carts of Mithril from the mines of the Rock & Stone mining company. Once in Rivendell they are to turn around and bring back 5 carts of medicine, potions, and medical supplies need in the mines of the Rock & Stone Mining company. Travel of the 5th of Diana is a quiet day for the companions with on incidents even though the party feels like they are being watched. Scouts have been sent around the area as they travel but could not figure out who or what was watching them. This was the first day since arriving in the Socrates Forest that the party did not have to deal with anything or anybody. As they set up camp on the evening of the 5th of Diana all seems well. The companions have one one day of travel to reach the the Elvin city of Rivendell.

6th of Diana, 500 CD.

The morning of the 6th of Diana dawns with an eerie stillness, the golden light of sunrise struggling to dispel the unease lingering in the air. The journey toward Rivendell continues, but with each passing hour, the sense of something unnatural pressing in from the depths of the forest grows stronger—especially for Zandi. The feeling gnaws at the edges of the mind, like a whisper just out of reach, an unseen presence lurking beyond the trees.

As midday approaches, the forest begins to change. The once vibrant canopy, alive with birdsong and the rustling of unseen creatures, has fallen deathly silent. Even the wind seems hesitant, barely stirring the leaves. Then, the signs appear. Feathers, scattered across the ground like remnants of a vanished flock. Broken twigs and disturbed earth, as if something large and unnatural has passed through. Then come the carcasses. A stag, ribs gleaming in the pale light, its antlers shattered from some violent struggle. A wolf, its fur matted with dried blood, eyes dull and lifeless. Small creatures—rabbits, foxes—reduced to gnawed bones and torn scraps of flesh. Whatever did this was not driven by hunger alone; it left nothing but ruin in its wake. A faint, sickly scent of decay lingers in the air as the road ahead stretches onward. Rivendell is close, but the journey no longer feels safe. Something is watching. Something is waiting.

The companions once again send their scouts to investigate. The party is on full alert considering what they have felt and observed for the first half of the this day. Zandi along with Dagwyn discover the what is left of a teleportation circle. From this circle the party is able to determine that a large group of Draconian and dragon soldiers have entered the Socrates Forest based on the tracks observed. The teleportation circle was supposed to be destroyed but was not completely destroyed. The party also saw tracks of what they believed to be dragonnel. The size of the party could not be determined, but the companions knew it was large. Zayrdi attempted to reach out to a friend who she had made contact with since arriving on the eastern banks of the Kriton Lake. Zayrdi could feel the pain of whoever she had been communicating with. From there the party searched to find a badly wounded Duskthorn Dryad by the name of Willowleaf who confirmed what they had discovered. She begged them to stop whatever this force was before passing out from the pain she was suffering. Jasmal healed here the best that she could. Then the party headed ne to find this threat.

As the sun hangs high in the sky, its golden light struggling to pierce the dense canopy above, you arrive at a well-hidden rest stop nestled along the Socrates River trail. What should be a place of respite is instead a war zone. The air is thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and death, mingling with the acrid stench of something far fouler—burnt flesh and sulfur. Whatever came through the portal has made no effort to conceal its presence, and now, the forest trembles beneath the weight of battle.

Before you, a desperate skirmish unfolds. A company of Moon Shadow Rangers stands in a tight defensive circle, their bows snapping off deadly shots while their blades clash against monstrous foes. Their enemy is fierce—Draconian warriors, twisted and scaled, lunge forward with clawed hands and cruel weapons, while towering dragon soldiers wade through the fray, their massive forms striking down elves with brutal efficiency.

The ground is littered with the fallen. Twelve elven bodies lay motionless, their once-pristine armor marred by deep wounds and fresh blood. Three unicorns, their luminous forms now darkened with the stain of battle, lay sprawled amidst the carnage—you cannot yet tell if they are merely wounded or forever lost. Around them, the remains of their foes are scattered—six dragon soldiers lie broken, their armor dented and torn, while the shattered husks of eight draconian dissolve into pools of sickly black ichor, their corpses reduced to twisted remnants.

The battle rages on, steel ringing against steel, war cries cutting through the air as magic crackles in furious bursts. The forest, once a place of life, now bears witness to this brutal conflict. And as you take in the scene, one thing is clear—if you do not act soon, the last of the Moon Shadow Rangers may not survive.

Rewards Granted

The following Experience points have been awarded:

• 700 points to: Zayrdi, Zandi, Dagwyn, Dagon, Dimmir, Arceven, Marik, Karrin, and Jasmal
• 500 points to: Conan and Raz' Thrak.
• 75 bonus point to Arceven (Recap)
• 50 bonus points to Marik (Recap)
• 25 bonus points to Dimmir (Recap)
• 25 bonus points to Dimmir (humor)
• 25 bonus points to Dagon (humor)

Character(s) interacted with

The following NPCs were interacted with during session 76:

• Duskthorn Dryad by the name of Willowleaf (Female)